Fall Foraging Fun and Reciprocity (Exercise #4) by Tara Carter

Pepper plant

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

I found this pepper plant to spice things up in my neighborhood. I think they are Serranos or Jalapenos. My neighbors had a lot of plants that I could use for food. Almost every house had some kind of edible plant.

Mushroom Foraging

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

Chicken of the Woods is an excellent mushroom to ID for beginners, based on the fact that it doesn't have many poisonous mimics and is very easy to spot growing on the base of trees! My family is originally from Russia, where mushroom foraging is really popular so I love living somewhere where it is easy to forage mushrooms! They are a great source of nutrients, they are vital decomposers for our environment, are abundant, and they are delicious!

Avocado Tree

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

Here is a local avocado tree I found. This would be a great resource for foragers on the central coast of California. Avocados are high in fiber, have a great source of good fats, and are a good source of folate. Avocados are known to grow with great abundance here, so avocados would be a staple for foragers in the area.

Apple Tree

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

Walking in my neighborhood I saw 2 apple trees, an avocado tree, and a lemon tree. I chose an apple tree to share because our board didn't have one yet. Apples are very nutritious and would be a great resource for foragers. They are a good source of fiber and vitamin C.

Fish - The Beach

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

I live in a neighborhood near the beach, I can easily walk there and get hold of resources such as shrimp, fish, shellfish, and maybe seaweed (though it probably needs to be boiled.) All of these foods contain nutrients useful to the human body such as vitman D and B2. For survival, I think the beach would be my best option.

Edible Flowers

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

I live in a Condominium unit so foraging was a bit difficult. We really only have some trees, grass and flower beds. But when I noticed these flowers with larger pedals and soft leaves I realized they could (maybe?) be edible ! I also noticed a squirrel running up a large tree trunk so I would like to think there might be some sort of edible nuts up there too.

Cacti!

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

On my neighborhood walk I came across this cacti plant. This can be eaten raw or cooked and it's very tasty. Cactus is high in antioxidants, protects nerve cells, and it's an antiviral. It is also a skin superfood as it's great for anti-aging. Cactus water can also be consumed and it is also very hydrating, it's a favorite of mine!

The Giant Yucca

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

While I was looking around for vegetation a forager may be interested in, I came across this giant yucca, Yucca gigantea. Found naturally in Mexico and Central America, these plants are said to reach 30 feet high on average and have the ability to withstand drought. The petals are used for seasonal cooking. Some say the taste is in between asparagus and artichoke. All parts of the plant are edible, sparingly, and the roots can be used as a soap.

Orange Tree

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

While forging around Santa Barbara near downtown, I saw a row of orange trees growing near the road! This is an excellent food source for small animals and humans packed with vitamin C, plus they are juicy!

I was walking in my neighborhood and there is one tree that always has a basket underneath it filled with fruit from the tree above it. In this case they are mandarins! It is for anyone walking by to take a few which is a sweet example of reciprocity in my neighborhood.

tdcarter2 — 2022-09-29 21:51:44 UTC

Sage

2022-10-05 02:28:15 UTC

Back in my hometown, it's very easy to find wild sage growing. This is a great resource for wild animals, and it's always fun running around the neighborhood to forage sage, and add it to your meal.

Seagull at the beach

2022-10-05 03:45:42 UTC

Yesterday morning my friends and I decided to watch sunrise on the beach. As the sun was coming up, a seagull comes flying over us to eventually plop down close to the water. Naturally, I took a picture of it and it so happened to serve me great purpose for this assignment. In the end of Foraging Societies, it is mentioned that foragers are a part of a subsistence economy in which they eat plant and animal based foods. For plants, they eat tubers, mushrooms and nuts, and fruit and honey. For animals, they eat Bison, Boar, seal, fish, horse, gazelle, elephant, whale, deer, birds, bear, and monkeys. If I was a forager, I would likely go to the beach a lot to seek out meat resources for my protein intake.

Snails for lunch?

2022-10-05 21:04:42 UTC

It hasn't rained in a while, but when it does the snails come out en masse outside my apartment on the sidewalk, and could easily be collected and, should the occasion demand, eaten! In fact, so many come that my neighbor's daughter made a sign that says "Watch your step! Protect the snails!"
I've eaten snails once, and they weren't bad... with enough butter and garlic that is.

Eucalyptus leaves

2022-10-06 03:07:53 UTC

As in many places in SB, there's a grove of eucalyptus trees that grows on the hill behind my neighborhood. Fresh leaves are inedible, but when dried they can be made into a tea that is high in antioxidants and may lower the risk of certain cancers. These natural benefits, along with those of many other plants and wild food sources, help explain why foraging societies are so healthy and generally display lower incidence of cancer and other diseases.

Pear Trees

2022-10-06 18:14:01 UTC

I had a pear tree in my old home and whenever we got pears, my mom and grandma would make pear juice or other deserts with them. They would try to use all of the pears but sometimes there were too many so we would give them away.

Cactus

2022-10-06 22:13:44 UTC

I live in apartments near Montecito in Santa Barbara, and there are many plants available that could be foraged near my home. This cactus is edible and could make a tasty and nutritious meal! 🌵

Raccoons

expendableasset9351 — 2022-10-06 22:45:56 UTC

I am presently confined in an urban environment. Naturally, there's no edible flora within a mile of me, maybe more. It had me worried, as having nothing to forage would get in the way of this assignment. Thankfully, a solution popped into my head, accompanied by two glinting eyes.

I remembered that raccoons like to walk along my walls at night. I further recall reading , " Raccoon is a popular game meat in many parts of the world, and its popularity is growing in the United States. "
I grinned. All that remained was to wait for nightfall. Soon enough, the sun had fallen, the humans slumbered, and the raccoons made their nightly march.

Had I any need of their meat, this would've been the time to move. Instead, I produced my phone, hoping to get a picture for padlet. Fate had other plans, as the camera couldn't find the raccoons in the dark. Using a flashlight almost made things worse, so I consigned myself to the use of an internet photo in this instance.

I don't wanna wait up for raccoons twice, but I concede in a foraging society I'd be left with no choice.

2022-10-07 01:01:24 UTC

We can make a wonderful fruit salad with the pear, and grill some nopales

we could also make a beverage from the San Pedro Cactus that is flowering behind them, but we're gonna need to clear our schedules for that.

Acorns

2022-10-07 01:13:17 UTC

2022-10-07 19:13:20 UTC

When I was younger, my uncle had a fruit and vegetable stand where he would sell a variety of different foods. A particular memory I vividly recall was driving to Santa Paula with all of my family and helping my uncle pick lemons to sell. It was a collective effort we did together and it was always a fun time.

fall foods! squash and pumpkins

lsmith2824 — 2022-10-07 19:37:45 UTC

Around my neighborhood, some of the neighbors take their gardening and lawns very seriously. During the summertime, this house's yard will be filled with beautiful flowers and watermelon but much like foragers with changes in the season, they also switch up what they grow and right now its squash and pumpkins!

2022-10-08 06:02:43 UTC

Sometimes when I walk to my local grocery store there is a tree on the corner that has Mandarins growing. Its a nice a little snack on my way back home and I only ever take one or two. Lots of squirrels in this area too. If I had to forage that spot would be hit for some resources and I let everyone know about it. This is a photo of one I plucked, that looked like it was shaped like a heart. <3

leafy Greens

gaguilarhassell — 2022-10-09 22:30:37 UTC

In California there is such a broad range of agriculture including secret paths filled with untouched huge amounts of leafy greens! I have found and eaten avocados, oranges, cumquats, and many more from around the area. At the beach when in the water I found myself tripping over lumps of seaweed! I found myself this incredible long string like seaweed that I also used as a necklace! these things would all make a fun salad :P!!

2022-10-10 01:41:38 UTC

2022-10-11 16:16:56 UTC

I took a walk to my best friends house because she was back in town from college and we live 15 minutes away from each other and outside of her house they have a few lemon trees as well as grapefruit tree's.

Crab - The Beach

2022-10-11 19:31:54 UTC

Since I live right next to the beach I wanted to explore the food resources there. I wanted to add this picture of a crab, even if I saw a lot of other different things as well, such as seaweed and fish. This is because I have eaten crab during my entire life, and it contains a lot of different nutrients. It is packed with protein and has a high level of omega-3.

Nasturtiums

2022-10-11 20:16:24 UTC

I was today years old when I figured out how to spell nasturtium, and that still feels incorrect somehow. All my life I thought it started with an M, and I was pronouncing it "mus-ter-shum". And only when I was googling the spelling did I realized that I've been saying it wrong for 19 years.
Oh yeah also they're edible. That feels like an afterthought at this point. They're edible, but they taste kinda terrible, (mostly they take like nothing, but whatever). They won't give you much nutrients, but I thought it was worth mentioning since I've been eating and mispronouncing these things my entire life--not because I liked them, but just because I could.

2022-10-12 00:47:59 UTC

I know I have foraged when I pick avocados from the avocado tree in my back yard. Avocados are good in fatty acids and provide an excellent source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6. Avocados contain great fatty acids that can help a person feel fuller for a longer period of time. This is beneficial to foragers because sometimes they would be looking for food for long periods of time therefore, if they consumed avocados they could go a longer time feeling fuller while they hunt and gather more goods.

2022-10-12 01:21:02 UTC

I went foraging in my neighbors orange tree in my backyard. It hangs over my backyard and I often times will pick oranges from this tree. Oranges would be considered a sweet item and contain a large amount of vitamin C which can be good for your immune system. This would not be a meal but rather a snack or a part of a meal.

2022-10-12 03:17:51 UTC

I have an apricot tree at my house, it's little but produces lots of fruit.

Huge Fig Tree In My Neighborhood

2022-10-12 20:17:29 UTC

Here is a picture of the massive fig tree on the property where I live. There are tons of fallen figs covering the ground below and one could easily pick a huge amount of fresh figs right from a low hanging branch.

OLIVE TREE

2022-10-12 20:18:10 UTC

Rosemary

2022-10-12 20:19:41 UTC

Here is some rosemary in my neighborhood which I frequently pick and use to cook with as it is my favorite herb.

Foraging in the Forest

2022-10-12 22:16:32 UTC

A few months ago I found a foraging pamphlet at a garden store. When I learned we were going to be foraging for this class I thought it’d be a perfect opportunity to set out into the mountains and look for foods the indigenous peoples from our area ate. I walked about 4-6 miles down one side of a mountain and back up it. I found dozens of wild blackberry and strawberry plants but they arent in season. I did however find a surplus of fennel, sage, and bay nuts. The pamphlet and the book my friend and I used really helped us identify edible foods. There were a ton of red berries that were definitely not edible and were extremely poisonous. 10/10 I’m doing this again next summer when the blackberries are in season.

Pineapple

2022-10-13 01:06:01 UTC

In my front yard there are various fruits and vegetables growing. The pineapple I saw while playing with my dogs caught my eye. Since it's not a common fruit to have growing outside of your home I thought it would be a good contribution to the band. It can be used for savory and sweet dishes and its great on its own!

Avocado tree

2022-10-13 01:08:29 UTC

In my friends back yard we have lemon and avocado trees

Passion Fruit tree

2022-10-13 04:01:13 UTC

Whenever I walk my dog in my neighborhood there are many types of trees that grow avocados, almonds, plums, pomegranates, etc. but today I found a passion fruit tree!! If you haven't tried passion fruit yet, TRY IT!

Okapicorn

2022-10-13 18:52:34 UTC

I wouldn't dare eat this, (I'm vegetarian), but I didn't know where else to put it.

Nectarine tree

2022-10-13 21:41:36 UTC

This is a picture of my friends nectarine tree. They are beautiful and delicious.

Tomatoes in my backyard

22hondaao — 2022-10-13 21:50:58 UTC

This isn't my picture, but my dad grows tomatoes and herbs in our backyard. This is a food resource we could use if we were foragers. -Libby Honda

2022-10-13 22:31:00 UTC

Tomatoes

2022-10-14 00:03:03 UTC

Around my apartment complex there are a few tomato plants no one seems to tend to so sometimes I grab a tomato or 2.

Tomato Plant!

2022-10-14 03:43:43 UTC

My friend has a little tomato plant. This picture isn't of her plant, but its about this size.

Lemon Tree

2022-10-14 16:07:14 UTC

Here is a picture of the lemon tree that is next to my house. I always pass it when I go out for a walk! There's only a couple of lemons in the picture but at its peak, the tree is full of them, so much so, that the neighbors who own the tree give our bags of lemons to everyone on our block! I thought this was a good example of foraging and reciprocity. - Esme Ortiz

2022-10-14 22:40:23 UTC

Crayfish

2022-10-15 01:22:57 UTC

The creek in my neighborhood in which I used to catch crayfish is dry so I followed the old stream and it led me to a tunnel with the critters thriving thought it was something I could catch and eat

Tomato

2022-10-15 02:43:38 UTC

These tomatoes taste great!

2022-10-17 00:12:25 UTC

While walking along the beach on, I thought about how many can fish for their food. If I were to be a forager, I would definitely use the ocean as a main food source. There are many things you can find along the beach, including things that don't even live in the water. Such as crabs on the shore or even small birds looking for food in the ocean as well!

Tomatoes

2022-10-17 03:05:11 UTC

We use to grow rows of vegetables and tomatoes in our backyard until just recently. Our little veggie garden was my first thought for this assignment. This photo isn't from our garden but close to what it appeared. We maintained this garden for a couple of decades, providing a constant supply of various vegetables and some fruit year-round.

persimmons!

2022-10-17 20:26:16 UTC

There are some persimmon trees near my work. They're ripe around this time of year. There are a few different ways to eat a persimmon, but the most simple way is to pick it and bite into it just like an apple!

Rosemary

sburnick — 2022-10-18 22:35:33 UTC

While walking around my neighborhood in Isla Vista, there are many edible plants you find around town. I frequently pick lavender, strawberry guava, and citrus fruits from neighbor's yards or in the parks. The plant I found today was a big ol' rosemary bush! They are a wonderful plant to pick, dry out, and cook with to add a lovely flavor to most any dish. They are easy to identify because they are very aromatic and have thin bristles that point upward and long stalks.

2022-10-19 20:06:48 UTC

While I was on my way to school, I was wondering if the SBCC campus has any food that I can forage. Near the upper parking lot when I got onto campus I was looking at every plant and tree that there was. I soon discovered that there was a bush covered in some sort of Berrys that had different colors. They were bigger than Blackberrys or strawberries for sure, but smaller than apples. I don't know the name of the Berrys but I do know that they are edible food that is sustainable when foraging

Olive Tree

blangon — 2022-10-19 22:28:37 UTC

This is a picture of the olive tree that is in front of my house. I have never tried to eat any of these olives, but I know that these types of olives are used to make olive oil. They fall on the ground and leave spots of dark purple everywhere. Squirrels are constantly in this tree eating the olives.

Avocado Tree

2022-10-20 18:22:23 UTC

This is an avocado tree I found at my place of work. There were so many of them and are also a source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. They also provide lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. They are very healthy and provide a lot of healthy, beneficial fats

Pumpkins!

2022-10-21 21:41:33 UTC

While out on a walk foraging I ran into some pumpkins on someones front porch. These are edible fruits that grow out of the ground and last a long time before going bad. You can eat the soft inside and the seeds can be roasted over fire. In terms if nutritional value Im not sure how much they have but I know they are delicious when seasoned.

Pumpkins :)

2022-10-22 22:12:46 UTC

My roommates and I went to Trader Joe's to pick up some decorative pumpkins for our apartment and it reminded me of our foraging padelt. Pumpkins are delicious seasonal squash that has many edible parts. The seeds can be roasted over a fire and the soft squishy inside can be put in soup or eaten plain.

Foraged avocados+passion fruit

2022-10-23 23:01:33 UTC

Foraged Potatoes

2022-10-23 23:04:45 UTC

Foraged Apples

kkai12 — 2022-10-24 20:01:27 UTC

My coworker lives in my neighborhood and he has a small apple tree that grows outside his condo. I would've taken a picture of the tree, but there's no apples on it right now so it would've just looked like a small plant. He recently foraged the apples and gave them to everyone at work. Apples are pretty nutritious as they have carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins.

A Cherry Tree

2022-10-29 18:10:42 UTC

This is a picture of one of my cherry trees.

Orange Tree

2022-10-30 02:37:40 UTC

As I was walking around the neighborhood, I found a orange tree!

Oranges :)

2022-11-01 01:00:20 UTC

Went on a little walk in my neighborhood and I actually found way more resources than I thought I would. By walking in the shoes of a forager, I really noticed a change in the way I started viewing the environment I am surrounded by everyday, this would be a goldmine for a forager. I took a photo of this orange tree I saw, it was the first thing I took a photo of. Once the oranges ripen, this is going to be an amazing spot for a little snack or maybe even an opportunity to make some orange juice!

Lemon Tree

mabdullah25 — 2022-11-01 01:17:02 UTC

This right here is one of our plants that me and my dad planted when we first moved into to this house. My dad is passionate about gardening a lot and this is one of our plants which happens to be a lemon tree. We have a lot more plants that are still growing so we have our own little sanctuary of plants at our house -Muhammad Abdullah

Guava tree

2022-11-01 06:18:45 UTC

My wonderful guava tree in my backyard. This season it has sprouted way more than last year and is 1 out of 2 guava trees I have in my yard. There are so many blooming I don't know what to do with them!

edible weeds!

2022-11-01 16:00:26 UTC

I love the idea of weeds that are edible. My definition of a weed is something that I don't want in my garden. But if I can eat it, and it grows well. awesome! Recently I found purslane and a friend told me he has put this on salads. and it is filled with nutrients.

Avocados

2022-11-01 17:32:47 UTC

Around my city I see avocados orchards everywhere and I used to have an avocado tree in my backyard until it had to be cut down. This photo is from a random orchard in Carpinteria where I am from.

2022-11-01 17:41:14 UTC

Some geese from a film picture I took around where I live! A good source of food if I were a forager.

Oranges, Tomato & Yucca!

2022-11-01 18:18:47 UTC

In our backyard we have two orange trees, a lemon tree (not pictured), two tomato plants and a yucca flower which is really yummy with eggs! I love picking the oranges and making juice!

wildflowers

2022-11-01 18:36:52 UTC

I've been trying to grow a wildflower area instead of a lawn in my backyard. hoping some of these flowers are also edible or will make delicious teas!

Wild berries

2022-11-01 18:57:19 UTC

Here are some wild berries growing in nature. This would be a great find as a forager. I have found berries growing out in nature before and made sure they were safe to eat and they are super delicious!

cucumber plant!

2022-11-01 19:14:55 UTC

If i was a forager, this is something I would definititelty eat.

2022-11-01 20:49:15 UTC

This is some lavender that i found behind the Luria Library it does not have much nutritional value but the flowers are edible and some of the flowers contain a small amount of nectar that you can drink. It is very sweet and i find myself taking a few if i see one. These would be used for flavoring or their nectar not really for eating on their own

Oranges!

2022-11-01 22:09:30 UTC

I went for a walk around my neighborhood and found this orange tree in someone's backyard that I would for sure take oranges from if I were a forager looking for food
-Natalie

2022-11-01 22:45:30 UTC

I found a tree growing some kind of fruit, it looked similar to an apple or a plum but it was a little smaller than both of them. Whatever they are, they could potentially provide some nutrients for foragers if picked and eaten.

Guava Tree

2022-11-02 18:23:59 UTC

My Grandma has been taking care of her guava tree for as long as I can remember. And now the tree will produce hundreds of guavas every year and she has become know for giving them away to her neighbors, friends, and family. This remind me of exactly how they would use similar practices in foraging societies.

2022-11-02 18:55:12 UTC

2022-11-02 20:13:07 UTC

These are some apples growing from an apple tree and if I was a forager who came across this tree i would defiantly stop for a quick bite to eat.

2022-11-03 01:14:14 UTC

Crab apple tree! These little apples are pretty sour, but something I would eat if I were foraging for food.

Avocado Tree!

2022-11-03 01:34:28 UTC

My family has been growing an avocado tree at our house for years, since before I was born! They grow the biggest avocados I have ever seen and our whole neighborhood is able to enjoy these nutritional and yummy avocados.

2022-11-03 03:39:35 UTC

2022-11-03 05:10:38 UTC

I grow apples in my backyard in my hometown, these apples are similar to the ones my family grew and i would eat these if i was a forager

Fresno Peppers

2022-11-03 05:17:28 UTC

Hanging out in my brothers backyard and I realized his Fresno Peppers was in full bloom. A little on the spicy side but delicious.

2022-11-03 09:40:25 UTC

In my parents backyard there are 5 banana trees. Whenever it fruits I help my dad cut them down and we give them to friends and family members.

Orange tree in my parents' backyard. This one is a Valencia orange, and there are Navels on the tree next to it. They also have a massive passionfruit vine, tomatoes, micro greens, and a pomegranate tree!

2022-11-03 18:34:17 UTC

Prickly Pear

2022-11-03 18:36:50 UTC

In my backyard our neighbors behind us have multiple cacti that grow these little fruits. If I were a forager I would stop for these and I'm sure the spines would prove difficult but once passed those its a great snack to have!

Pomegranate Tree

2022-11-03 18:42:06 UTC

This is a pomegranate tree that is able to provide fresh fruits to foragers. The fruit is plentiful and can help feed anyone that comes across it!

2022-11-03 18:44:47 UTC

We have a couple of tomato plants in the back yard. Sometimes when I am walking through the yard I just grab one and eat it like I am a real forager.

Oranges

2022-11-03 19:43:16 UTC

While I walked around my neighborhood, I saw several orange trees. I also do have orange trees in my yard. We also grow avocados, tomatoes, and lemons. They always grow big and delicious.

Avocado Tree

2022-11-03 19:51:30 UTC

At my old house we had an avocado tree that didn't grow an avocado for 7+ years. On year it started to grow a ton of avocados, so my mom decided to start maintaining it. Each spring we would have 75+ avocados that we would give to friends and family that were delicious, we were practically foragers ourselves!

Chicken!

2022-11-04 01:36:37 UTC

This is a chicken I found at my friends house! I would eat a chicken, although maybe not this one because I am emotionally attached to it.

2022-11-04 04:08:47 UTC

This is capers, which is an edible weed in my country. Therefore, if I were a forager, I would choose to find some wild like capers on the land as a food source because they are so diverse and not rare in number that you can see them almost wherever there is land in my country.

Passion fruits!!

2022-11-04 04:45:17 UTC

This is a branch-vine piece of passion fruits that I found on our SBCC campus. I am not sure how long these have been there for but I discovered them last year. Passion fruits are edible and they are a delicious piece of fruit that is very diverse. At our campus when they are ripe I know they are eaten by many staff and students that do know the location.

Pumpkins

Slipe99 — 2022-11-04 15:43:40 UTC

Walking through my apartment complex, I saw many doors decorative pumpkins outside. They look great and spread the festive mood but in respect to this padlet, the meat is a great, low-calorie, source of vitamins and the seeds are a great snack wen roasted.

Persimmons!

2022-11-04 16:44:41 UTC

This Persimmons Tree grows in my neighbors yard right next to my fence. It always produced a lot of fruit! My roommates and I have eaten a few persimmons from this tree and they are always sweet and juicy.

Loquats

2022-11-04 18:17:49 UTC

This is a loquat tree across the street from our house. It produces a small fruit in the fall and winter seasons. They are sweet and delicious. Usually has 2 seeds inside about the size of almonds but easy to eat. A nice treat when you want something sweet.

Pomegranates

2022-11-04 19:41:47 UTC

These pomegranates grow in the front yard of my home and provide fruit through the entire fall season. The fruit contains many seeds that can both be eaten or spread into the environment to grow more pomegranate trees.

Tomatoes!

2022-11-04 20:54:26 UTC

My family garden has a few baby tomatoes left! Tomatoes would be a great resource for foragers! This activity helped me look at my backyard differently. I did not realize the amount of vegetables, herbs, and fruit we have!

grapefruit tree?

2022-11-04 20:57:42 UTC

i call them big lemons but they're right outside my house and could provide an excellent source of vitamin c :)

Virginia Peppergrass

2022-11-04 21:57:49 UTC

Walking around DC, I noticed several different weeds and wildflowers that looked intriguing as they could be edible. I did some research on common edible weeds and noticed that I had one actually sitting in my backyard. The Virginia Peppergrass plant is entirely edible but what it was commonly used for is the seed pod itself. The seed pod is commonly used as a substitute for black pepper.

2022-11-04 22:13:53 UTC

This is the oldest apple tree in the Pacific Northwest. Apple trees take about 4-5 years to produce their first fruit. Apples are a great source of potassium and beta carotene.

2022-11-04 22:24:53 UTC

the famous chicken of the woods, not to be mixed up with the deadly jack o latern.

2022-11-04 22:41:15 UTC

California White sage grows everywhere on the central coast!

apples

2022-11-04 22:42:47 UTC

I came across this asian apple tree. these apples are quite small but produce and abundance all over the tree! They are known to be super sweet.

2022-11-04 22:48:54 UTC

Wild Fennel! not a true native, but thriving in california since the 1800s

2022-11-04 22:49:52 UTC

Worth the stings

2022-11-04 23:02:12 UTC

This is a persimmon tree that hangs over the fence of the backyard of my house. It produces a lot of persimmons during the fall season and can be eaten either right off the tree or dried.

Anaheim Peppers

2022-11-05 00:18:24 UTC

Although you can only eat so many spicy peppers, this garden bed had bell peppers as well!

Pineapple Guava

2022-11-05 00:31:07 UTC

Sorry for replying so late. But I found a pineapple guava tree at work today. And thought to myself that this would be something to eat if I was a foreigner. So I picked up some of the fallen fruits a took this picture.

Lemon Tree

2022-11-05 00:32:33 UTC

I have an orange tree near my house in my hometown Redding, CA, and my family and I would always incorporate oranges into our meals and our deserts!

2022-11-05 00:34:34 UTC

Pumpkin patch

2022-11-05 00:41:56 UTC

These are some of the pumpkins that I found while out exploring the land near my sons job. He works at a dairy farm and having pumpkin patches and other food resources near him really helps not only the community as a good resource but also helps the environment with natural resources for the forest and animals that forage on them.

2022-11-05 00:45:15 UTC

While I was in my grandparents backyard, I decided to take a picture of the apple tree. Apples would be an important source because they have antioxidants that protect the cells dna from damage. Also, they are super sweet and delicious.

Coconuts

2022-11-05 01:02:02 UTC

When I was in Hawai'i, I saw a lot of palm trees that grew coconuts. Coconuts can make many different types of delicious foods and drinks.

Blackberries

2022-11-05 01:04:15 UTC

Blackberries are native to California! I have many memories of picking them as a kid.

2022-11-05 01:18:19 UTC

while on my run I found an avocado and an orange tree side by side!

Lemon Tree

2022-11-05 01:18:24 UTC

In my friends backyard I found lemons. Lemons are helpful for many reasons. Those include reducing heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues and cancer.

2022-11-05 01:31:26 UTC

This is squash found in my local area. There are many resources that are available throughout my community and the forests.

2022-11-05 01:31:40 UTC

Here is some spinach that is grown within my community gardens and forests.

2022-11-05 01:31:56 UTC

My mom has always been big into gardening and utilizing natural resources in our diet. This garden contains foods such as carrot, tomato, spinach, strawberry, and cilantro.

2022-11-05 01:32:21 UTC

This is fennel that grows along the slough which runs through my back yard.

Plum tree

2022-11-05 01:33:42 UTC

This is a plum tree that is located at a local park and is always abundant with growth.

Coriander

2022-11-05 01:34:00 UTC

This is coriander found at the garden at the Middle school that I work at.

Apple tree

2022-11-05 01:38:17 UTC

While going for a quick walk, I found this wonderful apple tree that people can eat to be provided great energy for anyone who needs to be nurtured while on a walk.

Limes

2022-11-05 01:40:02 UTC

These would be good for immune support and are high in vitamin c and antioxidants

Seaweed

2022-11-05 02:22:32 UTC

Growing up in Maui, I quickly learned with my friends, through I guess what should've been supervised experimentation, that Seaweed from the ocean was edible! I have to admit it doesn't taste all that good, but there are loads of in at Isla Vista's beach. There are also lots of Mussels in the tide pools, however, I looked it up, and it looks like they could potentially be dangerous is uncooked or not inspected correctly. It reminds me how much foragers must understand nature and everything they're eating in order to stay safe.

Nasturtium Flower

2022-11-05 03:59:25 UTC

Growing up I always had some of these flowers in my backyard and I have seen them sometimes on the beaches near Summerland, CA. I decided to pick these because they are actually edible! Although they are not super tasty they do have a nice flavor to them. I used a picture that I found online because I moved houses and don't have them in my backyard anymore, but I would love to grow some.

2022-11-05 06:51:46 UTC

I live outside of Downtown LA, so there aren't many opportunities to forage here, but I walked past a rosemary bush the other day. While rosemary might not be edible on it's own, it may have some medicinal uses and be an addition to other foods.

2022-11-05 07:32:41 UTC

This Palm is just outside of the place I live in Isla Vista. It is one of many plants within two blocks of me that are edible there's also a community garden and there's a tomato plants that have sprouted up alongside the road just from someone's trash. I often pick the berries from The Vines along Elwood Beach trail.yum. foraging is much better way more fun than going to the grocery store and getting food that taste like nothing that you pay a whole lot of money for.

Lemon Tree

2022-11-08 00:44:25 UTC

I left my house and the first edible, growing thing that I saw was a lemon tree. I currently live in Goleta and if I were to be foraging back home across the country, my diet would be completely different. If I were a forager I could eat these lemons. Lemons would provide me with a high dose of vitamin C and have other health benefits. They arent the most substancial food, but is something I think a forager would eat.

Avocado Tree

2022-11-08 06:03:10 UTC

We used to have an avocado tree in our backyard and my sister and I would wait to pick them. We'd make it a tradition to use in our salads, it was always fun to use food we grew ourselves. Because I was young, I didn't make the connection that I could be foraging but it's cool to know now!

Guava Tree

2022-11-08 19:46:49 UTC

My aunt has a large guava tree outside her home, this tree is very nostalgic to me because my family and I would wait until they are ripe to bring home and eat.! Just recently my parents brought home a box of ripe guavas to eat. Then this morning I went on a run with my dog around my neighborhood, and saw a guava that was pink rather than yellow. Not only do guavas have more Vitamin C than oranges, guavas are rich in other antioxidants, and have a number of great health benefits. One of the key nutrients found in guava is fiber!

Plum Tree

2022-11-08 20:06:34 UTC

At my house in the Bay Area we have multiple plum trees in our backyard. I used to eat the small plums every year and I would patiently wait for them to turn ripe. This reminds me of my childhood and when I used to pick them! My family and I would have a surplus of plums and would always give some to our neighbors and friends!

Trout

2022-11-08 20:14:46 UTC

This is a trout I caught when I was camping. Trout is a great source of food and you can catch it and eat it yourself.

pomegranate

2022-11-09 01:24:12 UTC

There is a pomegranate tree on campus by the math buildings but my phone camera couldn't capture it well enough so i used one from the internet. Growing up we had about 3 pomegranate trees in my front yard that were my moms prized possession– she and I would wait every year for the trees to get ripe and we'd pick them together and sit in the kitchen for hours pulling apart the little gems inside. Pomegranates are a great source of fiber, vitamins (including vitamin c, k and potassium), minerals and they even have some protein (about 3 grams per serving). Pomegranates also contribute to your health in other ways as they protect your heart, urinary tract, help with digestion and brain health, and contribute to prostate heath for men. They are also a great source of hydration as well as antioxidants to boost your immune system and prevent getting sick.

2022-11-09 04:46:19 UTC

This is me and a bighorn sheep in palm springs. If they were not a protected species then they could be a good source of food.

Pumpkins

2022-11-09 07:29:13 UTC

Pumpkins would be a good source of food that's accessible to find and eat.

Blackberries

2022-11-10 00:57:21 UTC

Blackberries are a high source of vitamin C and fiber. These are easily identifiable and taste delicious! I found these in my neighborhood, growing along a fence, but these grow naturally a lot of places.

Rosemary

2022-11-10 00:59:24 UTC

I see rosemary a lot of places and its a great thing to add for flavor, it is easily identifiable by its smell and bristles. rosemary has many health benefits such as anti fungal and antiviral properties. I found this in my neighborhood

Passion Fruit

2022-11-10 01:00:49 UTC

Although these aren't ripe yet, Passion fruit is a delicious and tangy fruit that is easily identifiable from the inside and outside, specifically inside with its pods of vibrant orange. These are a good source of fiber.

Apricots

2022-11-10 07:29:28 UTC

Back home at my mom's house, I grew up playing in the backyard and snacking on the apricots that fell off our trees. These sweet and healthy fruits are full of vitamin C and are very easy to pick off trees, and fall off even easier which are great for foragers.

Blueberries

bellareyes10 — 2022-11-10 20:54:40 UTC

Fennel

2022-11-11 00:26:22 UTC

Here is some Fennel. I learned on this Padlet board that Fennel is not native to California. I find that very interesting because I seem to find Fennel all over California.

Fennel is great for soup, great in tea, and great when roasted. Chewing fennel is also good for cleaning your teeth.

Although this Fennel plant looks a little older, its root (which is the main part I like to eat) will still be fresh.

Random fruit tress

2022-11-11 00:30:20 UTC

Just some random fruit trees I saw.

Your regular ol' hood garden

2022-11-11 07:10:07 UTC

This is my apartment complex garden. I know it ain't much now, but hopefully my neighbors can get to it!

Passion Fruit in the Azores

2022-11-11 07:33:34 UTC

Here are some passion fruits and my family is from Portugal and it is one of their prominent fruits, especially in the Azores. I've never seen a passion fruit growing but it would be interesting to grow it.

Lemons from my grandfather's tree!

2022-11-11 08:34:32 UTC

My grandparents have a lemon tree that usually grows really big lemons. They always end up making some fresh squeezed lemonade with them.

Raspberries from my dad's berry patch

2022-11-11 08:40:00 UTC

I grew up helping my mom pick and make jam out of my dad's homegrown raspberries, young berries, and boysen berries. We have a surplus of Jam after most summers so we give it to family and close friends.

Lemon from my lemon tree

2022-11-11 18:18:50 UTC

Dandelion

2022-11-11 20:29:02 UTC

When I think of dandelions I think of using them to make a wish. Although they are considered weeds, they are actually edible and there are lots of recipes that use them at the flower stage (as shown above).

Tangerines!

2022-11-11 21:44:50 UTC

Here are some tangerines. They are a great source of Vitamin C and grow very well here in California. We have a tree in my backyard at my house in Ventura and I used to always pick a bunch in the morning and either make fresh juice or eat them as they are! They are a great snack and very easily portable!

Wild Strawberries

2022-11-11 23:41:29 UTC

These are wild strawberries that I found on the side of the road up in the mountains. I think that someone might have tended to them since there are so many, but I'll count it as wild. They are a good source of vitamin c and have good fibers in them.

I am from Ventura California and about 10 minutes from me is the city of Oxnard which is one of the largest citrus capitals. Almost every other 15 minutes you will see fruit stands and a bunch of filed workers picking our beautiful strawberries.

2022-11-12 01:13:58 UTC

Avocado Tree

tdmorgan — 2022-11-12 02:11:12 UTC

There is a creek nearby that I like to walk through often, but unfortunately it is usually dry so there isn't much to forage there. I decided to choose the avocado tree that we have had in our backyard for as long as I can remember. Avocado is not the most filling on its own but can be a good thing to add to other foods, it is high in the healthier unsaturated fats which the body needs a lot of.

2022-11-12 02:25:58 UTC

This is a cactus that I saw one day. I know it has commonly been eaten by native cultures. One time I made it and it was good.

Shovelnose Guitarfish

2022-11-12 02:39:31 UTC

This a shovelnose guitarfish I caught while surf fishing on Arroyo Burro beach. It is a whitefish with few bones and people are known to eat them. The one in the picture was around 3 1/2 feet and could provide a lot of meat. This one was released. Hypothetically, it could be caught with a net or spear as the water I caught it in was not very deep.

Turkey!

2022-11-12 03:33:13 UTC

Some turkey that I saw in front of a random house while I was driving. There was a bunch of them making their way across people's yards!

Lettuce

2022-11-12 03:49:03 UTC

Going back to San Diego for the week, my parents have been growing lettuce in their backyard. It didn't look quite as healthy as this picture but we picked some and it turned into a pretty good salad.

Potatoes!

2022-11-12 03:53:03 UTC

Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C and were actually used as a life-saving resource back in the older time because of their rich nutrients of potassium and vitamins that prevented scurvy!

Peach Tree

2022-11-12 04:10:30 UTC

I have a peach tree in my back yard, along with my apple, avocado and lemon tree. I chose my peach tree I researched that peaches contain antioxidants and vitamin C which is required for the building of connective tissue inside the human body. Eating a peach that is rich in vitamin C will help a person develop resistance against infections and help eliminate harmful free radicals that cause certain cancers.

Lemon Tree

2022-11-12 04:24:28 UTC

Barley

2022-11-12 05:35:33 UTC

Barley, Grapes and Olives!
you can make beer, wine, soups, pastas, breads, and so much more, it has amazing protein and high complex carbohydrates.
https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/rome-history/top-10-ancient-roman-foods-and-drinks/

Big Cactus on the side of the road that I found.

2022-11-12 06:56:40 UTC

Honestly not sure if this is edible or not, just saw this massive cactus on the side of Alston Road and thought of this assignment. I've heard that some cactus is edible, figured I'd submit this here just in case it is! I also saw those pink little bulb things all over the cactus and wondered if it's edible but I still don't know.

Cherries

2022-11-12 07:10:36 UTC

I found a cherry tree as I was walking down a road, I had never seen this tree even though I pass by it everyday. A foragers mindset helped me recognize it.

Banana tree

2022-11-14 04:57:11 UTC

I always knew that bananas grew on a tree. But I have never seen one before in person. Bananas help improve blood sugar levels, and is good for your all around health.

Oranges from my mom's orange tree

2022-11-14 23:23:12 UTC

Growing up my brother and I would always go outside and pick oranges to make freshly squeezed orange juice on weekend mornings

Apples from my neighborhood apple tree!!

2022-11-15 03:50:42 UTC

I've been picking apples from this tree for years, ever since I moved to this house. It's not my tree, it's my neighbor's, and there are so many apples on the ground and it's barely on her property. Therefore they're fair game and I will eat three every day. One time the lady who lives next to the apple tree heard my rustling around in the leaves and she yelled, "DON'T PICK THE APPLES." And I ran away with like four of them. I think that if I was a forager I would consider her a predator, like a bear or a hyena or something, because we compete for the apples. I would not consider her another forager, because foragers don't get involved in warfare, and she was trying to start a war!

2022-11-15 06:56:06 UTC

While walking back home from my parking spot, I took a stroll and found some sea weed. I always see this stuff at the beach and never thought of making anything with it but it turns out you can make soup with and dry it to make chip things.

Passion fruit from a neighbor’s tree

2022-11-16 00:14:30 UTC

They may be hard to spot out, but I came across a few passion fruits growing in a neighbor’s yard during a sunset walk with my dog. We know the neighbor quite well, so they were okay with me snagging one! Passion fruit is very rich in antioxidants, supports heart health, and a good source of fiber. And the best part is they taste amazing! I love putting them in my smoothie bowls or on top of vanilla yogurt.

pineapple

2022-11-17 03:51:41 UTC

Pineapples are a great natural food source full of water and nutrients. Perfect for food and can be made into a Piña colada

Plántanos Morados (purple bananas)

2022-11-21 14:39:39 UTC

In the front part of my uncles house he has a tree of Plántanos Morados. It’s a beautiful and big tree that give delicious and tasty bananas. They are different because they are purple on the outside peel but the inside of it looks the same but tastes sweeter! They are the most delicious tasting banana!

Wild blackberry bushes

2022-11-29 00:38:32 UTC

Growing up, my family and I lived in Northern California. My dad is an electrician and often worked in great fields on cell towers. On his way to and from work, he would pick and take home wild blackberries from nearby bushes for me and my family to enjoy (when they were in season).

Wild Cherry Tomatos

2022-11-29 23:47:44 UTC

When traveling in Europe, I saw many tomato vines sprouting around less urbanized areas. Back behind my house along the fence line in Santa Barbara, there are also tomatoes growing, shown in the photo on this post. My sisters and I will sometimes go and pick the wild tomatoes, but we also planted our own so that we can properly care for them and harvest them when they're ready. Tomatoes are high in citrus and vitamins, and provide good flavor and liquid (because of their high concentration of water) to any meal.

heres some lemons i found in my neighborhood

2022-12-06 00:37:21 UTC

home grown tomatoes

2022-12-07 19:01:46 UTC

These tomatoes were found around the corner of my neighborhood. My neighbor is growing some beautiful tomatoes.

plum tree

2022-12-08 01:05:12 UTC

I have a plum tree in my back yard back in the bay area and I could eat from them when I need to and also climb the tree and just makes me feel like I was getting them like I was an animal and a kid

The Beloved Pomegranate Tree!

2022-12-10 03:19:57 UTC

Broccoli Flower

2022-12-17 02:20:37 UTC

When I was younger I had a garden in my back yard and eating the broccoli flower straight from the plant was one of my favorite snacks when I would get hungry. It is very good for you nutritionally and even has a lot of protein in it!

Isla Vista Community Gardening Plots

2022-12-17 02:57:30 UTC

I used to live in Isla Vista. Much depressed me about the area, but this community garden always raised my spirits. You can plant any (legal) edible plant, but native species and organic growing techniques are preferred.

I foraged a neighbor’s orange from their tree.

2023-04-21 22:55:18 UTC

I tried the orange and it wasn’t my favorite, but I also don’t like oranges. My hope is that I find someone else who has foods I like, maybe an owner of an Oreo tree or Fried Rice bush.